PRESS RELEASES

January 2014

At four hours and 19 minutes, tonight’s AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic was the longest in Classic history. The previous record was three hours and 47 minutes in the 2003 Classic between LSU and Texas.

The combined 101 passing attempts by Missouri (44) and Oklahoma State (57) are the most combined passing attempts in Cotton Bowl history. The previous record was 84 by Oklahoma (49) and Texas A&M (35) in the 2013 Classic.

The combined 41 points in the fourth quarter is a Cotton Bowl record for combined points in any quarter.

THE MODERATOR: We'll start with an opening comment from Coach Pinkel.
COACH PINKEL: What a game. Oklahoma State is a really good team. Just all the drama that you don't want as a coach in the fourth quarter we had. We had a lot of adversity. I thought our team handled the adversity very well. Fortunately we made the plays we needed to make to win it at the end.
Very proud of our football team. Wanted that trophy really bad for them.

THE MODERATOR: We will ask Coach Gundy to make an opening comment.
COACH GUNDY: It's a tough way to lose the last two games. It's really hard on our team. I was proud of our effort. We had our chances.
Moving forward, we're very, very proud of the 28 seniors. They fought all the way till the end. We just didn't make the plays in the end. They made the last couple plays.
But the Cotton Bowl has been tremendous.

The No. 8 Mizzou Tigers claimed the school’s second-ever Cotton Bowl Classic championship with its 41-31 victory over No. 13 Oklahoma State on Friday, Jan. 3, 2014. It was Missouri’s third all-time appearance in the bowl, with the Tigers winning for the first time since the 2008 game (38-7 vs. Arkansas).

HEAD COACH GARY PINKEL
Opening Statement
“Just to mention some of the things that Mike said, too, I would say thanks to AT&T, thanks to the Cotton Bowl, second to none as far as hospitality. And, you know, just everybody has been great. The City of Dallas, everywhere we've gone, we've been treated with respect and kindness. It is just a great situation that you have here. And you do all the right things from our standpoint.

HEAD COACH MIKE GUNDY
Opening Statement:
“From our administration, players and the Big 12, we want to say thank you to AT&T. Bowl games are about an opportunity for the fans, coaches, players to enjoy a week. And as everybody said, the Cotton Bowl's been terrific, the hospitality, everything involved. We've had a great week.

“We're very excited about the game. We want to say congratulations to Coach Pinkel, his staff, and his players for a terrific season, what they've been able to accomplish.

DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR DAVE STECKELOn Missouri defense getting production from players that weren’t highly rated recruits
“To begin when you say highly-rated, I’m not sure who makes those rankings. Have you ever seen any of those people who give those stars? Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. But we have a certain system at Missouri that will follow and go through our little checklist. Like I always tell people, to me my wife is the most beautiful woman in the world.

OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR MIKE YURCICH
Opening remarks
“On behalf of the Oklahoma State football program, I’d like to thank the Cotton Bowl and the administration for their warm hospitality, their generosity. It’s been a wonderful experience for the coaches and players and also for our families.”

On running back Desmond Roland
“Desmond has had a tremendous season for us. I know Dez is really focused and looking forward to this opportunity to get back in front of his hometown and to be able to put on a great performance for you.

December 2013

OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR JOSH HENSONOn playing alma mater (Oklahoma State) and former program at which he coached
“I see a lot of familiar faces and have a lot of familiarity with the people around the program. Other than that, you take the emotions out of it obviously. It is just another game and the truth is that every day I am with the guys in this room and on the Missouri team. That is where my heart and soul is every day in preparing to win the game.

DALLAS – The Oklahoma State Cowboys, along with Head Coach Mike Gundy, spent part of their New Year’s Eve spreading 2014 wishes, visiting the children of Texas Scottish Rite Hospital Tuesday afternoon.

“This is a great experience for our team,” said Gundy. “Our team is very excited about participating in this year’s AT&T Cotton Bowl, but to be here with these children is a great opportunity for us and we will get more out of this visit than anyone else.

DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR GLENN SPENCER
Opening remarks
“It’s great to be here. We’ve had a tremendous experience so far. I’ve been to a lot of bowl games. This is hands down the best bowl in the nation, year in and year out. Somebody asked me yesterday if there was disappointment after losing the OU game and realizing we weren’t going to the Fiesta Bowl, and that disappointment turned right into elation when you find out you’re coming to the Cotton Bowl.

HEAD COACH MIKE GUNDYOpening Remarks
“We want to thank the AT&T Cotton Bowl and everybody involved. We have been here a few days now the hospitality, accommodation, entertainment and facilities have been really good and our players have had a great few days. We are looking forward to practicing the next few days and preparing for a great game.”

On playing Missouri
“I think every game is important and we are excited about playing against Missouri, who is a very good football team.

HEAD COACH GARY PINKELOpening Statement
“First of all we are very excited to be here and a part of the 2014 AT&T Cotton Bowl. It is a great bowl in a great city. Obviously this facility, AT&T Stadium, is remarkable. I probably can’t do it justice in description. We are excited about being here. Our fans certainly are too. We have had a good week thus far. One of our goals is to certainly have a good time when we are not focusing on the things we need to focus on.